Solving equations with light. (Courtesy: iStockphoto/Henrik Jonsson) 3x + y = 2. x + 3y = 0. It’s the sort of easy maths problem that you can work out in a few minutes using pencil and paper, but ...

But linear systems can do more than just count chickens and pigs. They crop up in many practical settings, where building a sturdier bridge or a stealthier aircraft can involve solving systems with ...

Quantum information researchers have tried to use linear equations as a key to unlock nonlinear differential ones for over a decade. One breakthrough came in 2010, when Dominic Berry , now at ...